LAHORE: All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA)-Punjab Chairman Adil Bashir has thanked Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar for reopening the textile industry value chain to facilitate the country’s exports and to ensure much-needed employment for labourers in these testing times.
Bashir was addressing a press conference at the APTMA Punjab office on Saturday. All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA) Chairman Pervaiz Lala was also present on the occasion.
The top APTMA official recalled that a delegation of Punjab-based textile associations had recently met the Punjab CM to brief him about measures taken by the textile industry to avoid the spread of coronavirus at factory premises.
He maintained the CM was satisfied with the arrangements and allowed the textile value chain to resume operations throughout the province.
“This decision of the government will save thousands of textile workers from getting laid off.”
Bashir affirmed that the textile industry would follow all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for COVID-19 in letter and spirit.
“The member mills of APTMA had already adopted all precautionary measures during the processing of orders by providing masks, sanitizers and other necessary equipment to the workers,” he added.
He said it was a matter of great satisfaction that the COVID-19 situation was much better in Pakistan as compared to the US and Europe. The number of deaths in Pakistan was around 420 as of today, which was far better than the developed world.
Agreement with the prime minister’s statement, he said Pakistan’s economy “cannot afford to keep people out of job for long”, and therefore, employment generation was essential even while dealing with the pandemic.
He also appreciated Punjab Industries & Commerce Minister Aslam Iqbal for his efforts towards millers’ facilitation.
